Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1887-11-16

ed during so momentous O crisis in his
life, and the unusual termination of the
judicial inquiry, have intensified that
interest, and I have not the slightest
doubt that there will be q great deal said
and written upon the subject
(Which should not be snid and writ
ten, muttered Mr.. Rutland.
''Neither have the slightest doubt" l
continued, s'that your 1rame will be freely
used and your motives for not waving
your opinion when eleven men were
against you freely discussed. We are
speaking here, if you will allow me to say
so, as friends of the unfortunate man, and
7 have no hesitation in declaring to you
that I myself believe in his innocence"
He interrupted me.
"Then, if you had been on the jury, you
would not have yielded to the opinions
of eleven, or of /, 100 mem"
He spoke eagerly, and saw that it
would be satisfaction to him to obtain
support in his view Of the case.
II am not so surc,' I said; our private
opinion of man when he is placed before
his country charged with a crime has
nothing whatever to do with the evidence
brought against him. Let us suppose, for
instance; that you have been at some time
or other, under more fortunate circum-
stances, acquainted with Mr.. Layton"
"Who asserts that?' he cried, much dis
turbed.
"No person that am aware Of" re-
plied.s am merely putting case. and I
will prove to you presently that I have a
reason for doing so. Say, repeat, that
o;r or
were acquainted with Mr.. Layton, and
that you had grown to esteem him. What
has that purely personal view to do with
your functions as juryman?"
"Mr. Bainbridge," he said, II do not
wish to be discourteous, but cannot con-
tinue this conversation"
"Nay," l urged, "a gentleman's life
and honor are at stake, and l am en-
deavoring to befriend him. am not the
only one who is interested in him. There
are others, thousands of miles away across
the seas, who are desirous and anxious to
make sacrifice, if by that sacrifice they
can clear the honor of q friend. See, Mr..
Rutland, will place implicit confidence
in you. Last night received a cable
from America, from Mr.. Archibald
Laing."
'Mr Archibald Laing" he cried, taken
by surprise. "Why, he and MIR. Layton
were"-
But he suddenly stopped, as though
fearful of committing himself.
"Were once friends" said, finishing
the sentence for him, and, was certain,
finishing it Alright. Eyes, should cor-
tainly say so Read the cable received" !"
And handed it to him.
At first he seemed as If he were disin.
chned, but he could not master his curios-
ity, and after slight hesitation he read
the message; but he handed it back to me
without remark.
"N1r. Archibald Laing," said, ''as ]
dare say you have heard or read, is one
of fortunes favorites. He left this coun.
try three or four years ago, and settled in
America--where, believe, he has taken
out letters of naturalization-an plunged
into speculation which has made him a
millionaire. No further evidence than
his cable message is needed to prove that
he is q man Of vast means. Why does he
ask me to apply to you for information
concerning Mr.. Layton which I may
probably turn to that unhappy gentle
mans advantage"
81 was but slightly acquainted with
Mr.. Laing," said Mr.. Rutland. HE and
I were never friends. repeat once more
that have nothing to tell you.''
I recognized then that I was in the
presence Of d man who, whether rightly
or wrongly, was not to be moved. from
any decision atwhich he had arrived and
I understand thoroughly the impossible
task set before eleven jurymen to win him
over to their convictions.
"Can I urge nothing" said, "to in
duce you to speak freely to me-"
Nothing" he replied.
spent another quarter of an hour en-
deavoring to prevail upon him, but in the
result left his house no wiser than had
entered it, except that I was convinced he
knew something which he was doggedly
concealing from me. I did not think it
was anything of very great Importance,
but it might at least be a clew that could
work upon, and was both discouraged
and annoyed by his determined attitude.
On the following morning, having
paved the way to further access to MIR.
Edward Layton, I visited the unhappy
man in his prison. He was unaffectedly
glad to see me, and he took the opportun-
ity of expressing his cordial thanks for the
friendliness had evinced toward him. /
felt it necessary to be on my guard with
him, and did not, thus early, make any
endeavor to prevail upon him to accept
me as his counsel in the new trial which
awaited him. There were one or two
points upon which I wished to assure my
self, and I approached them gradually
and cautiously.
"Are you aware" I said, "of the extent
of the disagreement among the jury?'
"Well," ne replied, 1--WE hear some
thing even within these stone walls.
am told that ..even were against me and
one for me-"
"Yes," said, "that is so."
"a bad lookout for me when am tried
again, Mr.. Bainbridge," he said, ''it is
very kind of you to visit me here, and ]
think you do so with friendly intent"
"Indeed," said, it is with friendly in.
tent"
'.Is it of any use," he then said, "for
me to declare to you that am innocent OF
the horrible charge brought against me?'
81 don't know" said, "whether it Is
yon have taken and seemed determined to
take
Yes" he said, "upon my next trial l
shall defend myself, as / did on my last
will accept no legal assistance whatever.
Still, as matter Of interest and curiosity
looking upon myself. as if I were some.
body clse-teu me frankly your own opin.
Ion."
Cranky and honestly" replied, 81
believe you to bs an innocent man."
''Thank you," he said, and l saw the
tears rising in his eyes.
"Do you happen" said presently, "to
know the name of the juryman WHO was
in your favor?"
no." he replied, "I am quite ignorant
of the names of the jurymen."
'But they were called over before the
trial commenced"
eyes, that is the usual course, 1 believe,
but did not hear their names. Indeed, I
paid no heed to them. Of what interest
would they have been to me? Twelve
strangers were twelve strangers; one was
no different from the other"
''They were all strangers to you?" l
asked, assuming purposed carelessness
Of tone.
eyes, every one of them"
"And you to them?"
II suppose so. How could it have been
othcrwisc?''
"But when they finally came back into
court, and the foreman of the jury stated
that they could not agree, you seemed
surprised"
"Were you watching me?' he asked,
-.